Improved method of transporting letters and parcels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.A, ELY BEACH, or STRATFORD, connno'rrcn'r.

lM PR-OVED METHOD OF 'TRANSPORTI'NG LETTERS PARCELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patnt No. 96,187, dated O tober 26, 1669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, A. ELYBEACH, of Stratl'ord,'in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented new anduseful Improvements in the Transportationof Letters, Parcels, and other Freight by Atmospheric Pressure; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to iuake and usethe same,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The usual atmospheric method of transporting freight is by means of vehicles-such as-cars, balls, bags,or hollow pistons-which contain the freight, and fit within a tube, and are therein propelled by the forceof an aireurrent. p

The object of the present im nroveinentsis to dispense with the use of such vehicles and transport the freight by submitting it tothe direct action of the air-currents.

My invention further consists in the-cmployment of ceriaiirdevices to facilitate the receiving and discharging 'of the freight, as hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the employment of a part of my improvements in connect-ion with a street-1a1np post letterbox. Fig. 2 11s a sectional end elevation of one of my improved receiving and discharging boxes. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation ot'the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of a =receivingbox. Fig. 5 is a, plan view, in part sectional, of my improved v shifting air-pipe.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In carrying out my invention I provide airtubesA A A, made of wood, metal, or other materials, of suitable size and strength, having a smooth interior. I

In some cases the interiors of the tubes are lined with clothor rubber or other soft material, ly means of a suitable blowing-en g'ine, l drive or draw a current of air through the tubes A A A" olfsuilicient force to buoy and carry along all letters, parcels,"or other freight that may be deposited within the tubes atany point on the route thereof.

In order to discharge from or deposit the letters, parcels, or other freight within the tubes, I combine therewith, at suitable places, the rotary boxes G. These boxes arevcomposed. wings or partitionsa an. a, mounted on and radiating from a central shaft, 6, forming compartments 1 2 3 4, for the reception of letters and parcels. The outer-edges of the wings a are intended to move incontact with tho casing B, the arrangement and-construction'of the wings and easing being such that in whatever position the wings may happen to stand two or moreof them will always be in con-tact with the casing B, and thereby preventthe escape of air to or from the pipes A.

Lettcrs,- .parcels, and freight intended for the air-tubes Aare placed within the mouth or hopper B, whence they fall into the uppermostv compartment of the rotary letter-boxO. The. crank b is then turned, and the contents of the compartments fall into the air-tubesA and are at once carried along in the tubes by the'ai-r-current,tl1e course 0 f which is indicated by the arrows.

The letter-boxes C may be employed'in the several offices and stations of the'pneumatic route, asin Figs. 2 and 3, and may also-be arranged within suitable pedestals or streetdamp posts, as indicated in Fig. 1. i

Various modifications may be made of the letter receiving and discharging devices, all capable of effecting the same necessary result-- namely, the deposit and discharge'of freight into and from the air-tubes without escape or access of air. One example of such modificat-ions is shown in Fig. 4,, inwhieh K is a pipe connnuuicating with the air-tube A. The upper part of pipe K is closed with a cover, f, through which is a slot, g, for the introduction-of letters. "he slotg iscovered to prevent escape of air from tube A by means of the cover L, which is hinged at h to the cover f. An ear, i, projects from the cover L, and a spring-rod, M, extends from car i, and connects with oneend of valve N, which is so pivoted and arranged within the pipe K that when the cover L is closed the'valve N will stand open; but when the cover L is raised fort-he insertion-of letters the valve N will cut ofi' the escape of air through slot 1 by closing against the bottom of the sleeve 0, which surrounds slot 9, and is fastened to the under side of cover f. ,XVhen the cover L is again closed, the valve Nwill open and the deposited letters will fall into the air-tube A. '1 "Tl1e above modification maybe readily arranged within the street-lamp posts.

Atthe stations, where the lettersparcels, and other articles are" to be discharged from the air=tubes A, the latter are separated, and

A. BEARDSLEY.

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Patenpei Oct. 26, 1869.

Fry 5 N. PETERS, PholmLllhogr-Apner, W-lshlnglum D. c. 

